Support for gay marriage varies widely among racial and ethnic groups

[Beacool]

Latinos in Los Angeles split on issue, while other groups express a more definite opinion.

By Cathleen Decker
June 19, 2009

In the state's continuing political battles over gay marriage, both sides are targeting Latino voters, and a new Los Angeles Times poll illustrates why.

Overall, the poll showed a majority of voters in Los Angeles support the right of same-sex couples to legally marry, with 56% in favor and 37% opposed. That finding closely tracked results of November's election, when Proposition 8, which limited marriage to a man and a woman, won statewide but lost in Los Angeles.

But the poll also showed that within the city, views on the issue differed widely among racial and ethnic groups.

White voters were most emphatic in supporting same-sex marriage, with 68% approving of it and 27% opposing. African American voters were almost the opposite, with 54% opposing same-sex unions and 37% supporting them. Opposition to gay marriage by African Americans was widely seen as a major factor contributing to the passage of Proposition 8.

In the current poll, Latinos were split, with 45% supporting same-sex marriage and 46% opposing. Within the Latino population, there were additional divisions: Women, the young and people with a college education offered more backing for it than men, older voters and those with less education.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gaymarriage20-2009jun20,0,4871594.story

[bliss_eternal]

1. gettin' real tired...

...of seeing people of color villified as "hating glbt's."

(not mad at op--just mad at these reporters that seem to think this is newsworthy. thanks to the op for providing information to our board. :hi: hiss and boo's to the times).

[Beacool]

2. I guess the point of the poll is to see which groups of people to target.

Both sides of the issue are targeting Latinos because they are evenly split on gay marriage, while whites and AAs appear to be entrenched in their respective positions.

;)

[bliss_eternal]

6. I think these polls are bs.

...and there's no way of knowing "who's entrenched in their positions." No single group of people on this board even agrees on the issues, and we're all supposed to be on the same side.

Taking California for example, it was not latinos, black people, asians or american indians that asked to place proposition 8 on a ballot.

It was caucasian religious zealots (last I checked, someone correct me if I'm wrong here). But where was all the blame placed after it was voted on? ....brown people.

I'm sorry. That's not ok. I know that it was released that those results were incredibly overblown (which many contended all along). But it is disgusting the way they're constantly striving to take people's eyes off of the true source of this insanity.

There are people of all ethnic backgrounds that do not support glbt equality. All. But there are also people in all ethnic groups that do support equality and work hard for it.

The divisive polls attempting to pinpoint whose most or least in favor, need to stop.
It's rightwing bullshit intent on dividing people.

[ruggerson]

40. Religion is the true source of this insanity

Many churches teach hate. WHite churches, black churches and brown churches. Socially conservative clergy are the problem, because the faithful parrot them without any critical thinking.

[vaberella]

41. Exactly....that or intolerance through suggestive means.

Definitely the Catholic Church is notorious for doing that. Let's just say Jews and "other" Christians were not seeing in a good light. Surprisingly they were rather accepting of Islam though...mainly because Jesus and all the prophets of the Catholic Bible are seen as prophets and Holy in Islam. Don't get me wrong...they have issues. But they weren't given a negative swing as Jews and "other" Christians were.

[Beacool]

57. Yes, I think that religion is a major factor, much more than race.

Some Christian denominations teach that homosexuality is a sin.

[bliss_eternal]

65. We have yet to see any of the "polls" survey religious...

...factions, instead of racial groups.

Polling people based on race suggests that "all individuals within ethnic groups think and feel exactly the same on everything." It's a ridiculous presumption. It demonstrates that the people/institutions conducting such polls can't be bothered to "evolve" to reflect reality.

[Sebastian Doyle]

95. Have you seen the "homosexual demon exorcism" video yet?

It's on YouTube and in the Political Video forum here.

Now THAT is some crazy religious wackjobbery! :crazy:

[vaberella]

39. "Entrenched"? WTF. Oy. n/t

[Terran]

46. It's age groups that need to be targeted

Analysis has already shown that it's older people of color who are so opposed to same-sex marriage. Among African-Americans 30 and under it's something like 70% FOR same-sex marriage.

[mkultra]

48. target for what exactly?

[Beacool]

59. Target of activists on both sides of the issue.

Hispanics are evenly split, with the older and more religious ones being opposed to gay marriage, while younger and less religious people being for it. Therefore, activists on both sides want to win a majority of Hispanics to their side.

[bliss_eternal]

71. ....for the op--to enable the slurring of brown people.

or was that not clear?

[mkultra]

79. lets toss another negro on the fire to power this steam engine of rights.

[Starry Messenger]

3. I dislike these polls.

In my perfect world, newspapers would be writing big exposes on the scammers who put anti-equality laws on the ballot in the first place. Those are the groups we really need to target.

[bliss_eternal]

8. Yes. exactly.

Polls are bullshit, imo.

There's been enough blaming on this board--of the wrong groups of people.

We need more accountability for the pos jerks that CREATED this proposition.
We need someone to explain how other states were allowed to POUR money into the campaign for this horrible legislation.

But the finger pointing in the direction of anyone with pigmented skin, needs to stop.

[Starry Messenger]

16. I guess the news media is intimidated.

The LDS organization has been really heavy on coming down on anyone who dares criticize their role in all this. I subscribe to a google feed that gives me news on the Mormon church role in Prop 8. Time just came out with an article that makes me want to barf.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1904146,00.html?iid=tsmodule

Picture after picture of white people who gave money to this and swear they are just misunderstood. I should post this as an OP soon.

[bliss_eternal]

19. If and when you do...

...you have my permission to pm me, and I'll be first to recommend it.

[Starry Messenger]

22. Will do!

Probably not tonight, but hopefully in the morning. Thank you! The last time we tried to do this, it got trolled. Wish me luck!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7801184#7801400

[bliss_eternal]

25. Good luck, Starry Messenger...!

I'm sure it will go well.

[bliss_eternal]

20. self delete.

computer error. dupe.

[bliss_eternal]

21. The night of the election results...

...I watched a room full of caucasians (in Irvine, CA) celebrating prop 8. It was a prop 8 support party. At least two couples were interviewed (caucasian) saying they were PROUD to support prop 8. PROUD.

Didn't see any people of color in that room.

[Starry Messenger]

23. {{Shudder.}}

That must have been like watching a horror movie. I've just seen their smug BS on the internet, which makes me feel very hostile.

[bliss_eternal]

24. It was surreal.

I couldn't understand. One couple interviewed said they brought their children. Can you imagine? Taking kids to such a thing. Teaching children that it's appropriate to vote to take other's rights away...and then attend a party for it after? :scared:

I felt sick, confused and incredibly pissed off that the news outlet was giving them a voice by talking with them. At the same time, I'm grateful(now)--someone needed to witness that...who was there and what they said, as sickening as it was. :puke:

[fortyfeetunder]

50. OP it and I'll K& R it too.

I read that Time article with the first example...hurry up and post it so I can add some Duzy-like material...

[donco6]

38. I agree totally.

They accomplish nothing.

[CakeGrrl]

4. What a divisive poll. Dredging up Prop 8 bad feelings

When the measure passed, people were using polls to imply that black voters (and by inference "Obama supporters") had been the cause.

Doesn't matter which angle is being taken, all things Prop 8/Gay Marriage are hot topics right now.

A little drop of gasoline on the angry-with-Obama fire, eh?

:D

[Number23]

5. "A little drop of gasoline on the angry-with-Obama fire, eh?"

You guessed it, sister!

The OP is not all that subtle, is she?? :)

[firedupdem]

10. Anything to add a little fuel to the fire. Not surprised at all... n/t

[Beacool]

60. Believe it or not, not everything is about Obama.

The sun doesn't rise or set due to him. This poll has nothing to do with him.

I didn't see his name or his supporters being mentioned at all.

[CakeGrrl]

96. Then how is this germane to GD: P if it has nothing to do with the President

or his administration? Why not the GLBT forum?

[Beacool]

109. There's a thread here about condoms.

As well as many other subjects unrelated to Obama.

:shrug:

[bliss_eternal]

9. Not every "black person" was an Obama supporter....

...no more than every caucasian supported "w."

These blanket assertions of groups need to stop.

There aren't enough black people in the us to "give" obama the Presidency. I don't care how many black faces they showed weeping with joy when he was inaugurated--don't believe the hype. It's a media ploy, and sadly it works on too many.

[firedupdem]

11. The "divide and conquer" game has been played for years...

A certain group will always push this bullshit.

[bliss_eternal]

13. It's beyond irritating...

...especially to see progressives buy into this stuff.

[LooseWilly]

30. Which group, praytell...

I'm dying to hear it revealed!

[mkultra]

34. that would be the bigots.

[CakeGrrl]

15. As a black person, I understand that, as do many others here

but that didn't stop the MSM from playing the "Obama has OVERWHELMING black support" card for every implication they could draw from it.

My point is that there were a couple of comments here that indicated that some who were very, very angry over Prop 8 were directing it toward those who cast the votes, and the MSM did all they could to imply that black support was key to Obama's success - and influential in passing Prop 8.

[bliss_eternal]

18. Oh yes...

...they definitely played that card. Good point, CakeGrrl.

:grr::mad:

[Number23]

26. CakeGrrl, you're black?! I had no idea!!

Where the hell have I been??? :crazy:

We'd love for you to come hang with us in AAIG! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=258

[bliss_eternal]

27. I just pm'd her....

...introducing myself. (and expressing my embarassment at not knowing a sister friend on du. :blush:)

:hide:

[Number23]

28. I know! Bliss we are SLACKING!

As members of the DU Soul Patrol, we are supposed to be able to sniff out potential recruits.

My afro pick-shaped decoder ring must be on the fritz! I better call HQ aka The Black House for a new one.

[vaberella]

43. I don't think there are many Blacks on DU to be honest. And I think I'm the only Haitian. n/t

[bliss_eternal]

64. You're right.

There were a lot more.

We lost quite a few during Katrina. Lost more after the "Michael Richards" incident. Lost more during the primaries and anyone left on the fence bailed during the prop 8 fall out.

:shrug:

[Number23]

70. Wasn't that the point?

anyone left on the fence bailed during the prop 8 fall out.

And now we've got good folks telling us what we can do to "channel our anger" over being scapegoated and stereotyped. We are soooo lucky to have them, I tell ya...

[ruggerson]

75. And we've got other good folks

who get angered over a poll in the LA Times, but rarely over the underlying issue of marriage inequality. And who's "us?"

[Number23]

76. I'm sure that you do, ruggerson

I am very sure that you do.

[ruggerson]

77. do what?

[bliss_eternal]

86. self delete.

.

[CTLawGuy]

94. didn't you get the memo

you're not allowed to be anything less than 100% in support of gay rights, because you should know better. :eyes:


And if you're a black presidential candidate, you better not associate with anyone who is not 100% in support of gay rights either. If you're a white presidential candidate, we won't look closely, though.

[Name removed]

97. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

100. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Forkboy]

98. Why would any one on the Left NOT be for gay rights 100%?

What an odd post.

[ruggerson]

99. not so odd for a guy

who writes angry posts about "white male homosexuals."

[bliss_eternal]

101. I don't understand either...

..how anyone could derive "opposition to equality" from a thread discussing "a hispanic poll." I haven't seen anyone on this thread say a word about not supporting equality. I have seen people pissed off that people of color are misrepresented by polls like this.

The posters I'm familiar with (in this thread) have spoken frequently in favor of glbt rights. :shrug: At least in my presence...
So, color bliss confused.

[Number23]

105. Of course you're confused, Bliss

You have not generalized entire groups of people and refuse to see, hear or consider anything that varies in any way from the narrative created in your head about said groups of people.

Add to the fact that you do not constantly seek to "instruct" these people on ways they can "improve themselves" and I'm certain that could only add to your confusion. But what do we know?? Apparently we're both in the prime racial group that is always in need of "instruction." :)

[bliss_eternal]

106. ah yes, but don't forget ....

...the hispanics--the other brown people mentioned in the original poll, and the subject of this one.

[CTLawGuy]

102. Ask Hillary Clinton

She's not in favor of gay marriage, she's not even in favor of repealing DOMA, just "fixing it". Yet somehow, she didn't get a quarter of the anger and vitriol during the primary and general that Obama got.

Now I'm willing and eager to listen to a good explanation for this.

[Forkboy]

103. You got to be kidding me.

Yet somehow, she didn't get a quarter of the anger and vitriol during the primary and general that Obama got.

If you were here for the primaries you know that's laughable on it's face.

And let me ask, if it's wrong (which it is) why use someone else who is wrong to defend your own wrongness?

[vaberella]

72. I bailed out for 5 months after the Prop 8 shit. This place was a hell hole.

Racism took new meaning and it seemed people felt justified in their actions.

[bliss_eternal]

74. Good for you...

I should have. But I stuck around, albeit I was quieter than usual.

My belief at the time was that many were lashing out in anger, and mourning their loss (all understandable). I thought (or hoped) that eventually it would blow over and some would realize how "unattractive" their behavior and words were. (That was not the case, sadly).

Yet at the same time, one doesn't go to their darkest place and play the "intolerance" card unless that lurks in their heart and mind on some level.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

108. I am a black woman who was raised by a black man...

And sadly there is a great deal of homophobia in the black community. It makes me angry, sad and very confused given our own history as an oppressed people.

But I think things are changing. I'm dating a guy who would be absolutely homophobic (black guy), but I've gotten him to open his eyes. I live in the D.C. area, and he was fixated on two guys kissing in the park the other day. I got him to understand that it was none of his business. And regardless of his personal feelings on the issue, we are a nation of laws. I explained to him that if he could understand that people enter into relationships all the time and just like it's not of their business what he and I do in the privacy of our home; it's simply none of HIS business what others do in theirs.

His eyes are opening and he's even supporting the idea of gay marriage I talked to him about it.

I think if people simply understood that gays/lesbians pose no threat to straight people or society, they'd open their hearts and minds on the issue.

I am happy that he's coming around to where I am. We've only been dating for a short while, so I haven't told him about my father. However, he does know that a member of my family is gay. His reponse has been that their life has nothing to do with us. I was pleased with that answer.

[noiretextatique]

110. there used to be a Haitian woman here

tinoire, but i don't think she posts here anymore.

[boppers]

7. Breakdown by religion/knowledge is more important.

This isn't a racial divide, it's a belief/education divide, with different "racial" groups adhering to different religious and knowledge groups.

[Lilyeye]

12. "Opposition to gay marriage by African Americans was widely seen as a major factor contributing

to the passage of Proposition 8." :eyes: I agree with the others who said this is a divisive article. I remember when the prop 8 stuff came out some of my repuke family members (who are against gay marriage and could care less about gay rights) were saying how hypocritical and backstabbing black people were for pushing prop 8. My uncle goes "as long as they got theirs to hell with anybody else." Of course I told him how much of a hypocrite he truly was considering the fact that he SUPPORTS gay marriage and would vote against it on any ballot.

BTW didn't Nate Silver dispel the myth that black people helped push prop 8 and that if it wasn't for them it wouldn't have passed? or I'm I thinking of someone else?

[bliss_eternal]

17. (sigh)

arguments that "black people should________" are bullshit.

suffering doesn't make any group of people more noble, more honorable or more compassionate than any other group.

people are entitled to their opinions about that, but i'm sorry that's just the way it is.
black people are "people." like other people--they are flawed, for better and worse--just like other groups.

all this "shame on you" stuff is for the birds.

some of THE most admirable, honorable and noble black people (imo) have all come out in support of glbt equality...

Coretta Scott King
Rev. Al Sharpton
Yolanda King
Maya Angelou
Rev. Lowry

...could we please stop focusing on who "doesn't support" and deal with those that "do support"?

[Behind the Aegis]

112. Mildred Loving

[Clio the Leo]

32. African Americans couldn't win CA for Obama in the primaries....

.... but they are responsible for the passage of Prop 8?

See, that doesn't even make any sense.

[FrenchieCat]

14. How convenient and quaint!

A poll of only Los Angeles!

So although a majority of African-Americans in Alameda County (the county with the biggest Black population in California) voted against Prop 8, they are left out of the poll. And since Los Angeles has the highest number of hispanic voters, and they are at 50% in support, what conclusion is one supposed to make from this cool poll about a nationwide occurence?

[Connie_Corleone]

29. Oh great. Another "blame the black folks" poll.

It's interesting how they NEVER have a breakdown of age, education and religious beliefs for African Americans but they do it for Whites and Latinos.

I guess they don't highlight that because it would show that the trends are similar to Whites and Latinos. Can't have that, can we? Black people have to be different from everyone else.

This shit pisses me off! :mad:

[LooseWilly]

31. I suspect that the same lack of breakdowns occurs when polling the "GLBT community"

Some "communities" are easier to cope with, I suspect, for the (us) white heteros if we can just make some handy generalizations. I could see how you might object.... but our college courses teach us to define, and then discuss...

It might be even easier if y'all would just define yourselves for us :sarcasm:(mostly)

Speaking seriously... I think some efforts to come together with various "communities" (a completely arbitrary term as I acknowledged in another thread...) might be of use to give some time for "inter communal communications"

I don't mean to tell the black community what to do or whatnot.. but it seems to me that having prepared numbers makes it easier to throw them in the faces of any whose faces (including mine) should happen to deserve a number slap down. If not today... Tomorrow.

[FrenchieCat]

35. You are literally saying that Black Folks should be defending themselves

from this article?

I'm not sure if 6.7% of California's population is the key to it all.....

but here's some numbers:

African Americans are approximately 6.7% of the population in California.
In Los Angeles County, where the poll was taken, they make up 9.5% of the population.
In the same Los Angeles County, Hispanics make up 47%.

In Alameda County, a county that voted against Proposition 8,
African Americans make up 15% of the population,
while Hispanics make up 19%.

Of the electorate, 6% are African Americans, while 18% were Hispanic.

52% of the California electorate in total voted FOR Prop 8.

It is true that if a larger portion of African Americans, like 3% would have voted against Prop 8,
it wouldn't have passed.

It is also true that if a larger portion of Hispanics would have voted against Prop 8,
it also wouldn't have passed.

It is further true that if more White folks would have voted against Prop 8,
it also wouldn't have passed.

The point is that we only needed 3% more of the vote, no matter where it came from,
and because the Hispanic and the White Population are larger than the African-American population,
it would be easier to simply try to get more votes from all parties and stop demonizing some groups based on their racial identities.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06037.html
http://citybloc.com/California//Alameda%20County

[mkultra]

33. yes, lets blame the negro

fucking ridiculous.

[vaberella]

37. It's always the fuckin' same and starting up again.

I'm serious these threads are like borderline offensive and completely divisive.

[bliss_eternal]

66. Borderline...?

I'm way over that border.

:grr::mad:

[vaberella]

73. I was trying to be diplomatic, but I too found it offensive. n/t

[vaberella]

36. It's not Ethnicity as it is Religious. I'm really tired of these polls that go by ethnicity.

The problem in many cultures is the influence of Religious propaganda in the culture.

[ruggerson]

42. Hopefully everyone in this thread will channel all their anger at the poll

into devoting one afternoon a week working for marriage equality for people of all colors.

[vaberella]

44. I think most people did...ie my post and several others.

Although there is no reason to call posters who have crossed the line or implied something rather anger inducing out. Don't push the meme and stupidity and yet the OP did just that in this post and most would assume seasoned posters would know better. I see no reason not to call out the OP for her actions as this is BS article, as she probably knows from her lack of responses in defense of it---except for that initial one. As though it has some relevance and importance---other than to divide and stir up hate.

[ruggerson]

45. the goal is marriage equality

in social movements it's always best to keep the eye on the prize. If the repeal is on the ballot in 2010, we have less than 17 months to change hearts and minds.

[vaberella]

49. Agreed. Actually a Catholic school in New York had the gay flag up.

Of course I love my City---because I went to Catholic school here and we're all liberals. Our Catholic division is a bit loose in it's thinking for a lot of things.

[ruggerson]

53. the Catholic church has a bit of a different angle

than, let's say Souther Baptists or Mormons, as you probably know.

Baptists and Mormons cling to the belief that innate sexuality is something someone "chooses" and that the "choice" is evil.

The Catholic church is ever so slightly more evolved. They believe that sexuality in an immutable, fixed, inborn characteristic. But they believe that *acting* on that orientation is a sin. They also believe that all sex outside of marriage is a sin, which puts gay people in a box, since the church does not support same sex marriages.

[Beacool]

61. The OP went to bed. It was late.

So, the LA Times is trying to incite hate and division by printing a poll? How about discussing the validity of the poll without throwing ad hominem attacks?

[Raineyb]

83. Perhaps you should look up. There's been plenty of opinions put out on it

none of it good.

This poll is more crap.

[Number23]

69. Yep

Although there is no reason to call posters who have crossed the line or implied something rather anger inducing out.

Way to go, vabs.

[mkultra]

47. or they will silently take offense at the implication

that blacks are to blame for the prop 8 bullshit and sit out. But hey, everyone is different.

[ruggerson]

51. if a poll changes anyone's vote on a civil/human rights issue

that's not someone who is thinking very clearly.

[mkultra]

52. i woudl agree, but is the cause of equality served by only appealing to the clear headed?

or do you forget the nature of democracy?

[ruggerson]

54. educating people is always the answer

but anyone who lets anger at a poll sway their decision on this probably wasn't reachable to begin with.

The good side will win out eventually. The history of mankind teaches us an important lesson: human rights move slowly, and fitfully, and with speed bumps. But they only move in one direction.

[mkultra]

56. well, i agree with the later, but not the former.

i think that polls regarding the intellect of blacks vs whites are also senseless.

[Beacool]

62. This is not the first poll on this issue with similar results.

I took it as an indication of where gay activists need to to do some work. In other words, reach out to the black churches and try to talk to that community. My Lutheran church is quite liberal. We have two women pastors, one is white & the other is AA. The congregation is varied, spanning most major races and age groups. Our music director is gay and his partner joins us on Sundays once in a while. This is not the type of church that needs too much convincing to support gay rights. But, other much more conservative ones do and that's where the focus should be.

[bliss_eternal]

67. Stop it.

Quote:
In other words, reach out to the black churches and try to talk to that community.

You seem to be broad brushing, just like the article. As I said earlier in the thread, that needs to stop.
People of color, specifically black people are not responsible for this.

[Beacool]

82. Who the heck is saying that black people as a whole are responsible?

But there is obvious some outreach that needs to be done among the religious community. Ignoring the issue won't make it go away.

[noiretextatique]

111. i think some people are commenting on

how some gay people allowed dubious poll results to change their opinions about an entire group of people. i.e., african-american.
it happened right here, and i saw it all over the net. it definitely makes me wonder if they were reachable to begin with.

[ShadowLiberal]

55. The real dividing factors on gay marriage are age & how religious a person is, not race

You'll find a wide variety of differences of people of the same race throughout the US. Certain the white people in Massachusetts are much different and much more liberal then the white people in deep south states like South Carolina.

If you look closer at the numbers on gay marriage you'll always find a large generational gap, with the strongest gay marriage supporters being the young, and the strongest opponents being the oldest.

The other main factor with a strong correlation at predicting gay marriage support is how religious someone is. You'll notice that the states that have legalized gay marriage through the legislature are the states where religious belief/importance of religion in everyday life is the lowest. Take Vermont for example, one of those national religion surveys showed that the 'no religion' group was about 1/3 of the population there, and was larger then any other religious group in Vermont.

The reason for differences between races on gay marriage is differences in what percentage of that race is young, and in religious belief. The most recent national religion survey showed that Asian Americans were the least religious race in America, they had 10% more 'no religion' people then Whites, Hispanics, and Blacks in the survey.

[incapsulated]

58. +1

Yup.

[Beacool]

63. I agree with you.

I didn't see the poll as an attack on the AA community as much as an indication to gay activists where they need to focus their work, at least in the L.A. area.

[bliss_eternal]

68. This is a contradiction in terms.

One would have to take some stock (of truth) in the article, to make the assertions you are making.
Try reading your own thread and the responses in it.

If you're interested, seek out statistics of how many "black people" are in Los Angeles. Here, a poster in this thread provides it for you:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8485432&mesg_id=8485819

There aren't enough there to have swayed the outcome.
You've been told that numerous times in this thread.

You need to stop broad brushing the black community in Los Angeles this way.
Doing so, you are stereotyping a portion of the glbt community in Los Angeles (which are black) who were also affected by this proposition.

So knock it off.

[AtomicKitten]

78. Nate Silver explains why this race-baiting is off base (and wrong).

QUEERTY: Last weekend, at the Las Vegas protest against Prop 8., comedian Wanda Sykes came out and mentioned you during her speech– saying that you had disproved the "70% of black people voted against Prop. 8" meme. Is that what you said?

Nate Silver: That's not exactly what I said. But there's a related meme, which the notion that Prop 8 passed because of all the new supporters that Barack Obama turned out, and it's just not true. People who were voting for the first time — almost all of whom supported Barack Obama — voted against Prop 8 by a 62:38 margin. Had Barack Obama not energized new types of voters and gotten them to the polls, Prop 8 would have passed by a wider margin.

Now, there are going to be people who want to slice and dice those numbers more finely, such as by looking at African-American voters, who voted for Prop 8 in the aggregate. But there are a couple of problems with that. Firstly, there is no evidence that new African-American voters — the ones who turned out for the first time because of Obama — voted to pass Prop 8. And secondly, this whole notion of trying to lump voters together into monolithic categories is silly. Black voters do not all behave alike; nor do white voters nor Latino voters. If there's the need to assign blame, let's assign blame to the individuals who chose to support the measure — and there were plenty of them in EVERY racial group.

http://www.queerty.com/exclusive-nate-silver-on-african-americans-prop-8-and-being-a-hero-to-gays-geeks-everywhere-20081121/

[firedupdem]

80. Thanks for posting this. n/t

[bliss_eternal]

85. Thanks Atomic Kitten...!

I'm now bookmarking this thread, so I always have access to your post, specifically.
Nice work!

:thumbsup::applause:

[AtomicKitten]

104. *

Nate Silver: If there's the need to assign blame, let's assign blame to the individuals who chose to support the measure — and there were plenty of them in EVERY racial group

:hi:

[WestSeattle2]

81. This is such a bogus issue. We're all equal, if two

consenting adults want to get married, get married! More power to them.

So go forth and have orgasms, make each other feel good. If you want to procreate, hell, do that too.

[BlooInBloo]

84. Ah yes - the old lie that it was the black folks' fault. All 7% of them.

:rofl:

[bliss_eternal]

87. LOL!

:spray:

...in all fairness, this one seems to be spreading the blame a bit to other brown factions--hispanics.

[Forkboy]

88. A two-fer.

Let's cram as much divisiveness into one poll as we can!

[bliss_eternal]

89. Haha!

...though I think the original was also a "two-fer" that included black and hispanic voters. But members of DU seemed to (somehow) give a pass to hispanics before black people.

...what with so many trotting out their obligatory, "...someone black was mean to me once, during my lifetime" story.
Clearly that equates to "they're all hateful."

[vaberella]

107. 7% goes a long way. They're Bachmann's...Black people created all the ills of the US. n/t

[CTLawGuy]

90. Is this the key to LGBT activist hostility to Obama?

Blaming blacks for Prop 8 is total bullshit, but I suppose those blacks are the oppressor class toward white male homosexuals so its totally ok :eyes:

[ruggerson]

92. the LGBT community did not commission or put out this poll

if you're angry about it, call the LA Times.

And there are plenty of LGBT people of color who are pushing for more out of this administration, but they are always conveniently shoved aside in these discussions.

[CTLawGuy]

93. no but plenty of DUers were talking about this

shortly following the election. It was disturbing.

[Fearless]

91. This isn't racial, it's RELIGIOUS. So cut the BS already!

We went over this in NOVEMBER!